New Chief Of City Schools?

Ex-west Hartford Educator May Take Reins From Dixon

July 24, 1998|By LISA CHEDEKEL and RICK GREEN; Courant Staff Writers

Matthew Borrelli, a retired assistant school superintendent in West Hartford, is a leading candidate to take over as interim schools chief in Hartford -- an appointment that could be announced as early as today.

The state board overseeing the schools needs to replace Benjamin Dixon, a deputy state education commissioner who has been serving as interim superintendent since mid-May. Dixon originally said he would stay until mid-August, when he starts a new job in Virginia. Recently, he told his staff he plans to leave a few weeks earlier.

Finding a new interim superintendent of schools is a top priority for the state-appointed board of trustees. The board is counting on the next schools chief to ensure a smooth opening of schools in September, improve financial management and complete a staff reorganization.

Trustees also want to make changes in curriculum and turn over more control to individual schools.

Borrelli could not be reached for comment Thursday evening, and Robert Furek, chairman of the state board of trustees overseeing Hartford schools, was tight-lipped about the appointment. But several trustees and city council leaders confirmed Borrelli was a leading contender.

``He's certainly been one of the candidates we've been looking at,'' said the Rev. Henry Frascadore, a trustee who serves on the search committee for a new superintendent. A national search for a permanent schools' chief could take until December or longer, trustees have said.

Frascadore said the committee has been interviewing people for the temporary job in recent weeks. He called the process ``a very intense search'' that has involved ``a number of outstanding candidates.''

Trustees have said they want to put a team in place to oversee the schools, including the interim superintendent, a finance chief and a third administrator.

Borrelli, 60, who retired from the West Hartford job in January of this year, has been involved in the Hartford schools for the past several months. He was hired by a committee of business, city and school leaders to tackle a range of financial management problems that have plagued the schools.

In West Hartford, where he rose through the ranks over 22 years, Borrelli was popular among principals but landed in the center of controversy, including some surrounding a reorganization of elementary schools.

Nancy Rion, a member of the West Hartford school board, said Borrelli was assertive.

``He had a strong knowledge of most aspects of the system,'' she said.

``He's a fine professional, a very strong administrator,'' said Penny Jojin, principal of West Hartford's Norfeldt School. ``I would endorse him 100 percent.''